10 Frugal Decorating Ideas

The master bedroom is another place with widely varied uses. For some of us, it's a calming location for the end of the day, or one we never see except for bedtimes and the morning rush. For others, it's a personal home-within-the-home in which we do our best thinking, reading, talking or resting. The bedroom can be a danger zone for decorating, because we tend to decorate "as if" we were going to use it in some way, instead of to suit our needs -- or we never get around to it at all.

Think about the rhythms of your daily and nightly life. If you don't see the room during the day, don't bother creating a huge dramatic scene. It's not a movie -- it's your life. If you prefer spending relaxation time in the bedroom, make sure you clearly delineate the meaning and use of the spaces in it. There's no need to over-organize, but if you watch yourself mindfully, you might see some places for improvement that will go further to revitalize the space than any painting or new bedspread.

Do you find yourself tripping over an accent bench every morning on the way to the closet? Do you find yourself staring at a bump in the ceiling when you should be sleeping? What in the environment could be changed to better serve your purposes? What do you see when you look around the room: Is it too much stuff, or too much space? Does the bedroom feel half-finished, or does it feel cluttered and wild? Address those questions, and you'll be able to customize the style of the space to feel fresh, often without spending a dime.